Since Beta, I've seen people saying what there opinion of this game would be "if it wasn't Star Trek" or accusing other players of taking a certai stance, pro or con, "because it's Star Trek".
Now... One thing I've thought about before but never chimed in:
If this game wasn't Star Trek, it would have to be something else, wouldn't it? People say "if it wasn't Star Trek" like you could just strip out some art assets and the game could keep going as something other than Trek.
Whereas I look at the instancing (very Trek), the ground/space duality, directional shields, bridge officers... I think if this wasn't Star Trek, some of those features might be here but most of them wouldn't. I certainly think a lot of the decisions made down to a lot of the art actually play against the directions Cryptic would ordinarily go.
If this game wasn't Star Trk, some say it would be dead. I think you have to factor in that if it wasn't Star Trek, it would be an unrecognizably different game. But WHAT would it be?
My gut says it would be:
Champions: Star Hero
Or maybe "Star Champions".
And it would probably deviate from the standard Star Hero take to allow for more Buck Rogers-like gameplay and a dash of weirdness/comedy. Quasi-steampunk guys with jetpacks and laser pistols. Comedy relief aliens. Somewhere between Space Ace and Space Ghost in tone while using the Star Hero backdrop. And it would have missions/raids where you can team up with people on Champions servers.
But I think it would be marketed as the game for people who want to play a giant-jawed, headband wearing, rocket pack strapping guy who blows up his enemies with science. (Or a ridiculously hot woman of the same disposition.)
Oh. And I think you'd see space combat but your model wouldn't change to a ship. Ships would be a purely cinematic/mapscreen based form of transportation. Instead, for space combat, you'd be flying around in a space suit, having Moonraker or G.I.Joe style space fights.
Since Beta, I've seen people saying what there opinion of this game would be "if it wasn't Star Trek" or accusing other players of taking a certai stance, pro or con, "because it's Star Trek".
Now... One thing I've thought about before but never chimed in:
If this game wasn't Star Trek, it would have to be something else, wouldn't it? People say "if it wasn't Star Trek" like you could just strip out some art assets and the game could keep going as something other than Trek.
Whereas I look at the instancing (very Trek), the ground/space duality, directional shields, bridge officers... I think if this wasn't Star Trek, some of those features might be here but most of them wouldn't. I certainly think a lot of the decisions made down to a lot of the art actually play against the directions Cryptic would ordinarily go.
If this game wasn't Star Trk, some say it would be dead. I think you have to factor in that if it wasn't Star Trek, it would be an unrecognizably different game. But WHAT would it be?
My gut says it would be:
Champions: Star Hero
Or maybe "Star Champions".
And it would probably deviate from the standard Star Hero take to allow for more Buck Rogers-like gameplay and a dash of weirdness/comedy. Quasi-steampunk guys with jetpacks and laser pistols. Comedy relief aliens. Somewhere between Space Ace and Space Ghost in tone while using the Star Hero backdrop. And it would have missions/raids where you can team up with people on Champions servers.
But I think it would be marketed as the game for people who want to play a giant-jawed, headband wearing, rocket pack strapping guy who blows up his enemies with science. (Or a ridiculously hot woman of the same disposition.)
Oh. And I think you'd see space combat but your model wouldn't change to a ship. Ships would be a purely cinematic/mapscreen based form of transportation. Instead, for space combat, you'd be flying around in a space suit, having Moonraker or G.I.Joe style space fights.
I would absolutely play that game.
Hell, my crew in STO when I first made my current main character were a rag-tag bunch of civilians and mercenaries who met by chance(Think Firefly, or Farscape) during their encounters. I didn't RP them as Star Fleet at all. I was already playing that game
As I've said before, the game would be all >>>>>WIN<<<<< if it was 'Freaky Flying Submarines Online'.
Bluesiders vs Redsiders in a right royal knock down/drag out battle to determine the fate of the Sector Sea!
All hands, stand by for a Sales Pitch repost!
BE the Captain of a Freaky Flying Sub - they're big and clumsy but can actually leave the water for a time to skim over the surface of the Sector Sea as they travel from Island Group to Island Group. Plus you can customize their appearance and try different weapons and empowerment modules to make your Freaky Flying Sub as freaky as you want! Pilot a swift, deadly Skimmer, a battling broadside Bruiser, or uncover hidden enemy Peekaboats with a sensitive Sniffer Ship!
SAIL the Sector Sea - no one knows who sectored the sea as it was done long, long ago by beings capable of erecting giant signs along the sector borders that are still there today! It's a mystery!
GO BIG BLUE with a Bluesider - they live in the Blue Sectors of the Sector Sea and are a happily bent on killing everyone that isn't Blue! Their homeport is the Lol Island Group.
ROCK AND ROLL with Redsiders - they live in the Red Sectors of the Sector Sea and are grumpily bent on subjugating everyone that isn't Red! Their homeport is the Quiznos Island Group.
Ah! It would be GLORIOUS!
No expectations beyond what is shown on the box or on the website. No TV/Movie ships/races/whatever to emulate down to the last seam. No 'That's not how they act/look/talk in the movies!' No 'Bluesiders can't use Peekaboats because they have a treaty with the Greensiders!' because (unless the devs so decide) there is NO TREATY WITH ANYBODY! Woo!
Taking this idea further, I think Science, Engineer and Tactical would be played for more parody (which Cryptic tends to border on) as:
Space Nerd:
Male - Think gawky, wobbling knees. Frank Kranz-style voiceover. The goofy borderline Don Knotts type.
Female - Visually like Gadget from Chip 'n Dale. Think Felicia Day voiceover. The clever shrinking violet type.
Space Jock:
Male - Think Simon Belmont from Captain N. The kind of character whose name in the randomizer would be things like Beef Squarejaw and Rip Manchest. Nathan Fillion-style or Bruce Campbell-style voiceover.
Female - Think Jessica Rabbit. Uber sultry but assertive voiceover.
Space Spaz:
Male - Disheveled. Messy hair. Goggles that are askew. Think voiceover ala Jim Cummings as Ed the Hyena from The Lion King.
Female - Also disheveled but a bit punk, a bit goth. Scratchy voice. Think Tara Strong as Raven from Teen Titans cartoon.
Oh. And I think Bridge Officers would all be half the height of captains since your crew would be composed entirely of chibi-style aliens like the ones from Toy Story (Science BOs), animal mascots (ala Gleek from Superfriends; Tactical BOs), and children (in the Jimmy Neutron-meets-the Wonder Twins or Jan and Jace from Space Ghost vein; Engineering BOs).
Comments
I would absolutely play that game.
Hell, my crew in STO when I first made my current main character were a rag-tag bunch of civilians and mercenaries who met by chance(Think Firefly, or Farscape) during their encounters. I didn't RP them as Star Fleet at all. I was already playing that game
Bluesiders vs Redsiders in a right royal knock down/drag out battle to determine the fate of the Sector Sea!
All hands, stand by for a Sales Pitch repost!
BE the Captain of a Freaky Flying Sub - they're big and clumsy but can actually leave the water for a time to skim over the surface of the Sector Sea as they travel from Island Group to Island Group. Plus you can customize their appearance and try different weapons and empowerment modules to make your Freaky Flying Sub as freaky as you want! Pilot a swift, deadly Skimmer, a battling broadside Bruiser, or uncover hidden enemy Peekaboats with a sensitive Sniffer Ship!
SAIL the Sector Sea - no one knows who sectored the sea as it was done long, long ago by beings capable of erecting giant signs along the sector borders that are still there today! It's a mystery!
GO BIG BLUE with a Bluesider - they live in the Blue Sectors of the Sector Sea and are a happily bent on killing everyone that isn't Blue! Their homeport is the Lol Island Group.
ROCK AND ROLL with Redsiders - they live in the Red Sectors of the Sector Sea and are grumpily bent on subjugating everyone that isn't Red! Their homeport is the Quiznos Island Group.
Ah! It would be GLORIOUS!
No expectations beyond what is shown on the box or on the website. No TV/Movie ships/races/whatever to emulate down to the last seam. No 'That's not how they act/look/talk in the movies!' No 'Bluesiders can't use Peekaboats because they have a treaty with the Greensiders!' because (unless the devs so decide) there is NO TREATY WITH ANYBODY! Woo!
Space Nerd:
Male - Think gawky, wobbling knees. Frank Kranz-style voiceover. The goofy borderline Don Knotts type.
Female - Visually like Gadget from Chip 'n Dale. Think Felicia Day voiceover. The clever shrinking violet type.
Space Jock:
Male - Think Simon Belmont from Captain N. The kind of character whose name in the randomizer would be things like Beef Squarejaw and Rip Manchest. Nathan Fillion-style or Bruce Campbell-style voiceover.
Female - Think Jessica Rabbit. Uber sultry but assertive voiceover.
Space Spaz:
Male - Disheveled. Messy hair. Goggles that are askew. Think voiceover ala Jim Cummings as Ed the Hyena from The Lion King.
Female - Also disheveled but a bit punk, a bit goth. Scratchy voice. Think Tara Strong as Raven from Teen Titans cartoon.